Escalator adapted to follow a curved path



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M. HEFTl Feb. 18, 1958 ESCALATOR ADAPTED TO FOLLOW A CURVED PATH 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 IN V EN TOR.

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ESCALATOR ADAPTED T0 FOLLGW A CURVED PATH Filcd Oct. 20. 1954 5 Sheets-Sheet 3 IN V EN TOR. MART/N HEFTI.

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ESCALATOR ADAPTED TO FOLLOW A CURVED PATH IN V EN TOR. Mn Few/v HEl- 'Tl.

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ESCALATOR ADAPTED TO FOLLOW A CURVED PATH Filed OOfi. 20, 195% 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 IN V EN TOR.

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2,823,785 ESCALATOR ADAPTED TO FOLLOW A CURVED PATH Martin Hefti, Bach, Switzerland Application October 20, 1954, Serial No. 463,435 Claims priority, application Switzerland January 13, 1954 14 Claims. (Cl. 19817) The present invention relates to improved escalators, more particularly to step escalators which are adapted to follow a variably curved path and to move around substantially horizontal angular turns up to 180.

It is an object of the present invention to provide escalators which require little space and which can be built as a winding staircase, or which can be arranged in a circle and/or on a straight line whereby the upgoing and downgoing escalators may be parallel and juxtapositioned.

In the escalator according to the invention a chain which is adapted to move on a curved path is driven by horizontal sprocket wheels and guided by means of guide rails on any desired curved and/or straight path going through different elevations. The individual steps of the new escalator include a circular plate and marginal plates individually having a straight end edge transversely to the direction of movement of the steps and two straight side edges extending at a right angle from the end edge and tangent to the circumference of the circular plate. The marginal plates have a curved fourth edge which is adjacent to and curved to conform with the edge of the circular plate. The marginal plates are movably connected with the circular plate so as to rotate relatively to and around the center point of the circular plate. The circular plate is supported on a carriage having three rollers whose axes of rotation are parallel and set in the corners of an isosceles triangle. The rollers are guided in rails following the path of the escalator. Where the escalator path is horizontal, the two rollers at the base of the triangle are guided in a horizontal rail. If the escalator travels on an inclined path, the roller at the point of the triangle and one roller on the base of the triangle move in an inclined rail. The carriages are fastened to the aforedescribed chain. portions of the steps are formed by flexible and preferably elastic sheet material interconnectingthe end edges of the marginal plates of adjacent steps.

The novel features which are considered characteristic of the invention are set forth with particularity in the appended cliams. tional objects and advantages thereof will best be understood from the following description of embodiments thereof when read in conjunction with the accompanying drawing, in which Fig. 1 is a diagrammatic front view of an escalator according to the invention forming a winding stair;

Pig. 2 is a diagrammatic top view of the escalator shown in Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a diagrammatic top view of a straight path escalator according to the invention;

Fig. 4 is a diagrammatic side view of the escalator shown in Fig. 3;

Fig. 5 is a diagrammatic top view of a step of an escalator according to the invention with parts broken olf;

Fig. 6 is a diagrammatic vertical section of the step shown in Fig. 5, the section being made along line VI-VI of Fig. 5;

Fig. 7 is a diagrammatic vertical sectional view of the step shown in Fig. 5, the section being made along line VII-VII of Fig. 5;

Fig. 8-is a diagrammatic top view of a modified escalato'r" step according to the invention with parts broken ofi;

The vertical The invention itself however and addi States atent 0 a 2,823,785 Patented Feb. 18, i958 Fig. 9 is a side view of the step shown in Fig. 8;

Fig. 10 is a front view of the step shown in Fig. 8;

Fig. 11 is a diagrammatic vertical large-scale sectional view of a portion of a step according to the invention showing the connection of a marginal plate with the ch cular plate as used in the step shown in Figs. 8 to 10;

Fig. 12 is a diagrammatic front view of a modified step according to the invention suitable for transporting goods; Fig. 13 is aside view of the step according to Fig. 12; Fig. 14 shows an escalator or conveyor according to the invention forming a loop;

Fig. 15 is a top view of a further modification of a step of an escalator-conveyor according to the invention;

Fig. 16 is a front view of the top of the step shown in Fig. 15;

Fig. 17 is a diagrammatic vertical transverse sectional view of a modified escalator according to the invention;

Fig. 18 is a diagrammatic side view of an escalator ac cording to Fig. 17;

Fig. 19 is a top view of a step and its support of the escalator shown in Fig. 17.

The same numerals designate the same parts in all figures.

Referring more particularly to the drawing, numerals 1 and 2 designate bearings carried by bars 1 and 2, respectively, for supporting sprocket wheels 3 and 4, respectively, for driving and guiding a chain 5 to which steps 7 are movably connected by means of brackets 6. Each step is provided with a carriage which is guided by rails 15. One or both chain wheels may be driven by an electric motor 31 (Fig. 4). The escalator moves upwardsbetween side rails 8 and 9 and moves downwards between side rails 9 and 10. Thetop of the rails 9 and It) may be provided with conventional flexible. hand rails moving at the same speed as the escalators. At each end of the center rail 9 is a vertical shaft 11, the shafts being coaxial of the axes of the chain wheels 3 and 4 and rotating therewith. The shafts 11 serve for driving a flexible hand rail 12.

Figs. 4 to 7 illustrate a step as used in the escalator according to the invention. The step includes atread in the form of a circular plate 13 from whose center a pin 20 extends downwards. This pin rotatably supports arms 21 individually having an upwardly extending portion 18 carrying a horizontal marginal .plate 18'. which completes a rectangular platform on top of the step. Rollers 22 are mounted on pins extending inwardly from a bar 33 which connects the arm 21 with the plate 18 and is parallel to the vertical portion 18. These rollers roll in recesses 17 of peripheral rims or annular guides extending downwardly from the plate 13, so that the two vertical plates 7' and 7". Through the lower porportion of the plates 7' and 7" extend three shafts 14,

14, and 16, which are set in the corners of an inverted isosceles triangle and which carry rollers at their ends.

If the step travels on an inclined path, the rollers at the.

ends of the shafts 16 and 14 or the rollers at the endof the shafts 16 and 14 are guided by a rail 15. If the,

step travels horizontally, the rollers on the shafts. 14

. and 14' are guided by a rail 15. The carriages 14, 14',

16, 7', 7" which support the escalator steps are hooked to the chain 5 by means of brackets 6. At the places where the path of the escalator changes from an incline to the horizontal, the tops of the steps disappear smoothly of consecutive steps.

The step illustratedinFigs. 8 to 11 is supported by a 3 tubular member 34 which replaces the plates 7' and 7" of the modification shown in Figs. 4 to 7. The shafts 14 and 14 are replaced by pins 35 and 36, each pin carrying only one roller. The inclined guide rails 15 and 15" are at different elevations, so that one rail (15) may be engaged by the two rollers (16' and 36') and the other rail (15") is engaged by the roller 35'.

Fig. 11 illustrates a modified rolling connection between a marginal plate 37 and a circular plate 38 of an escalator step, whereby the support arms 21 of the mechanism shown in Figs. 4 to 7 are made unnecessary. The cylindrical or barrel-shaped rollers 22 of the modification shown in Figs. 4 to 7 are replaced by pairs of beveled rollers 24 and 39 and the inside of the groove in the rim 17' of the circular plate 38 is so shaped that one roller (24) rolls on the beveled upper inside surface of the groove in the rim 17' and the other roller (39) rolls on the beveled lower inside surface of the groove in the rim 17'. Figs. 12 and 13 illustrate a step or platform suitable for conveying goods. The top of the step may be provided with an upright marginal rim 28 for holding the goods. There are no marginal plates. The roller axes are in the corners of an upright isosceles triangle. There are three rollers 40, 41, 42 on one side and only one roller 40' on the other side of the support, roller 40' being coaxial of the roller 40 which is at the point of the isosceles triangle. the rollers 40 and 41, supporting rollers 40 and 42. The other rail 15" merely supports the roller 40'.

The tops of the steps shown in Figs. 15 and 16 are elliptical and are provided with deep grooves 29 to facilitate unloading of the goods.

Fig. 14 is a top view of an escalator or conveyor for transporting piece goods in manufacturing plants or sales and storage rooms. At each change of direction of travel of the conveyor there is a chain wheel 27, a sprocket One of the rails 15 runs between path of the escalator, and a plurality of horizontal chain wheels rotating on vertical axes and engaging said chain for determining the path of said chain.

2. An escalator as defined in claim 1, comprising a flexible hand rail placed parallel to the path of the escalator, vertical shafts connected with said chain wheels for rotation therewith, and means connected with said shafts for rotation therewith and engaging said hand rail for moving the latter synchronously with said chain.

3. An escalator as defined in claim 1, in which said rails have inclined and horizontal portions, the axes of said rollers being permanently placed in the corners of a rigid isosceles triangle having a horizontal base, the rollers at the ends of the sides of the isosceles triangle engaging the inclined portions of said rails and the rollers at the ends of the base of the triangle engaging the horizontal portions of said rails.

4. An escalator as defined in claim 1, in which said support structure of said steps includes a horizontal portion connected with said platform and a rigid vertical portion rigidly connected with said horizontal portion, said rollers being mounted on said vertical portion.

5. An escalator according to claim 4, comprising a handle mounted on the upper end of said vertical portion. 6. An escalator as defined in claim 1, in which said platform includes a circular plate mounted on said support structure, and marginal plates revolvably connected with said circular plate for oscillation relatively to said circular plate.

7. An escalator according to claim 6, in which said circular plate is provided with a peripheral rim having an annular recess and said marginal plates are provided with rollers rolling in said recess.

wheel 26 being driven by a motor 31 for moving the chain 5.

Figs. 17 to 19 illustrate a modified escalator in which the steps 43 are supported on the horizontal leg 44" of L-shaped brackets or hangers. The top of the steps is constructed according to Fig. 11. The vertical portion 44' of the hangers is provided with a lower guide roller 44.travelling in a lower rail 15'. Three rollers 45, 46, 47 are mounted on'the vertical portion of the hanger in the corners of an isosceles triangle so that the two rollers 45, 46 or 45, 47 on the sides of the triangle can travel in an inclined rail 15", depending on the inclination of the rail. If the rails 15' and 15" are horizontal, the rollers 46, 47 on the base of the triangle travel in the rail 15'. A handle 48 is provided on top of the vertical bracketv portion 44'. A chain 5 is connected with the portions 44' by brackets 6'. Numerals 50 and 51 designate stationary side shields provided on either side of the escalator, and numeral 49 designates a shield, covering the outside of the guide rails and of the supportmechanism of the escalator.

Whilespecificv embodiments of the invention have been shown and described, it will be apparent to those skilled in the art that various changes, modifications, substitutions, additions and omissions may be made therein without departing from the spirit and scope of the in vention as set forth in the appended claims.

What is claimed is: p

1. A step escalator adapted to follow a variably curved path and to move around substantially horizontal angular turns up to 180, comprising guide rails placed parallel to the path of the escalator, a plurality of steps, each step including a'platform and a support structure, rollers mounted on said support structure and guided by said guide rails, an endless chain permanently connected with all of said steps and being adapted to bend in at least two planes which are at an angle to each other, the entire chain following and being equidistant from the entire 8. An escalator according to claim 7, in which said circular plate is provided with a central downwardly extending pin and said marginal plates are individually provided with a substantially horizontal arm having an end rotatably connected with said pin.

9. An escalator according to claim 7, in which said marginal plates are provided with pairs of coaxial beveled rollers and said annular recess has a beveled annular interior upper rim engaged by one of said coaxial rollers and has a beveled annular interior lower rim supporting the other of said coaxial rollers.

10. An escalator as defined in claim 6, in which said support structure includes two parallel vertical support members having upper ends connected with said circular plate and having a lower portion interconnected by shafts on whose ends said rollers are mounted.

11. An escalator as defined in claim 6, in which said support structure includes a vertical tubular member whose upper end is connected with said circular plate and References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 701,459

Aston June 3, 1902 2,163,693 Margles June 27, 1939 FOREIGN PATENTS 199,112 Y Great Britain June 13, 1923 601,565 Germany Aug. 18, 1934 

